Apparatus for use in repairing mitral valves and method of use thereof

Abstract

Apparatus for repairing a heart valve and methods for implanting anchors and repairing a heart valve are provided. The apparatus comprises a body, a member attached to the body at a first end and having a plurality of positioning cords spaced laterally across the member and extending away from a second end of the member opposed to the first end, a tube suspended from the plurality of positioning cords, and an adjustment cord extending through the tube. The method comprises implanting at least one annular anchor in a mitral annulus of the heart valve, implanting a papillary anchor through each papillary muscle of the heart, delivering and positioning an apparatus for repairing a heart valve inside the heart valve using the at least one annular anchor and the papillary anchors, and adjusting the apparatus to adjust the extent of atrial displacement of the heart's mitral leaflets during ventricular contraction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for repairing a heart valve, the apparatus comprising:
 a radially compressible and expandable body, the body having an anterior end and a posterior end; 
 an anterior member connected to a posterior member, the anterior and posterior members being attached to the anterior and posterior ends of the body respectively, wherein the anterior and posterior members each comprise a section extending radially around the body, and extending longitudinally from the body to a plurality of positioning cords, wherein each section comprises a net-like structure defined by a plurality of cells, and wherein the plurality of positioning cords are spaced laterally across the respective section, arranged to extend longitudinally away from the body, from the section to a respective end thereof; 
 an anterior tube and a posterior tube each being attached to the respective plurality of positioning cords at the respective end thereof; and 
 first and second adjustment cords extending through each of the anterior and posterior tubes, wherein the anterior and posterior tubes are lengthened or shortened by tensioning the respective adjustment cord, wherein the length of each positioning cord is selected to suspend the respective anterior and posterior tube from the respective anterior and posterior member in a parabolic or parabolic-like shape. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein tensioning the first and second adjustment cords lengthens or shortens the respective anterior and posterior tubes consequently displacing the respective tube towards or away from the body causing corresponding displacement of the respective anterior and posterior members. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein lengthening the anterior and posterior tube consequently displaces a vertex of the parabolic or parabolic-like shaped respective anterior and posterior tube towards the body, and wherein shortening the anterior and posterior tube consequently displaces the vertex of the parabolic or parabolic-like shaped tube away from the body. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of peaks and a plurality of troughs, the peaks and troughs defined interchangeably along a diameter of the body. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of ring members, each ring member positioned on a corresponding peak. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising an encircling member connectable to the body for radially compressing and/or radially expanding the body, and wherein the encircling member passes through the plurality of ring members. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the body defines at least one anchoring site. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a skirt, and wherein the skirt defines at least one anchoring site. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to extend from an atrial wall and a mitral annulus to an anterior-lateral papillary muscle and a posterior-medial papillary muscle of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the anterior member is configured to cover an anterior mitral leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the posterior member is configured to cover a posterior mitral leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the anterior and posterior members are each formed of a material comprising a biocompatible, blood-permeable material that permits the passage of blood therethrough. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cells has a diamond shape, a square shape, or a rectangular shape. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the diamond-shaped cells are contractable between a relaxed position and an elongated position. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the diamond-shaped cells are uniform in shape and size in the relaxed position, and wherein the diamond-shaped cells are heterogeneous in shape and size in the elongated position. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the diamond-shaped cells each comprises a first diagonal length extending between longitudinally opposing vertices, and a second diagonal length extending between laterally opposing vertices, the diamond-shaped cells positioned near the body have greater second diagonal lengths than the diamond-shaped cells positioned near the positioning cords. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the diamond-shaped cells positioned near the positioning cords have greater first diagonal lengths than the diamond-shaped cells positioned near the body.